NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) — The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is advising drivers in southern Rhode Island to plan ahead in the coming days.

Starting at 9 p.m. Thursday, there will be extended lane closures on Route 1 at the Route 138 interchange in North Kingstown.

RIDOT said crews are using "accelerated bridge construction methods" to replace the structurally deficient Tower Hill Road Bridge.

The following lanes and ramps will be closed this weekend:

• Route 1 – one lane in each direction closed at the bridge
• Ramp from Route 1 South to Route 138 East
• Ramp from Route 138 West to Route 1 South
• Ramps that allow traffic to reverse direction from Route 1 North to Route 1 South, and Route 1 South to Route 1 North

RIDOT recommends using alternate routes and suggested the following detours:

• Route 1 South from East Greenwich to Route 138 East toward Jamestown and Newport: Remain on Route 1 South and reverse direction to Route 1 North using the turnaround approximately 1 mile south of the Tower (intersection with Mooresfield Road and Bridgetown Road). Follow Route 1 North to the ramp to Route 138 East.
  • Note: Trucks will be directed to detour at Bridgetown Road to Boston Neck Road (Route 1A) to Route 138.
• Route 1 South to Route 1 North: Use the same detour as Route 1 South to Route 138.
• Route 138 West from Jamestown to Route 1 South toward South Kingstown/Narragansett: Use the ramp for Route 1 North. Merge onto Route 4, then turn right onto West Allenton Road. Turn right onto Route 1 South.
• Route 1 North to Route 1 South: Use the same detour as Route 138 West to Route 1 South.

RIDOT said drivers coming from URI's Kingston Campus should head toward North Kingstown using Route 2 North to reach Route 4.

Drivers heading north from Narragansett should use Route 1A.

The work is scheduled to be completed before Memorial Day weekend. RIDOT noted that all projects are subject to change.

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